Type-writing machine.



PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906.

J. G. MOLAUGHLIN. TYPE WRITING MACHINE. Arrmoulon' mm) mm 1 1905 wi/twzwco j/ UNITED STATES PALENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. MOLAUGHLIN, OF NEW YORK, N Y., ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPEVVRITER COMPANY, OF NE NEW JERSEY.

W YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Patented. Dec. 25, 1906.

Application filed Match 7, 1905. Serial No, 248,922.

have invented certain new and useful Immovements in Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the kind of typewriting machines in which the ribbon is vibrated at each type-stroke to cover and uncover the printing-point, and specifically to mer ns forenabling either color-band of a "pclychroma tic ribbon to be brought into use at will.

The object of the invention is to produce for this pur ose a simple, compact, inexpensive, durab e, and easily-operated mechanism which will not be liable to get out of order.

In the well-known Underwood typewritingmachine, upon which I illustrate my invention, it is the practice to employ a movable -frame, called the universal-bar frame,

which is .reciprocated at each key-stroke,

.- such frame having a part called the universal bar, against which the type-bars act. Mechanism extends in said reciprocating frame to a ribbon-carrier, such that as each type-bar approaches the platen the ribbon is thrown up, and while the type-bar recedes the ribbon drops. Usually a slotted arm is provided upon said reciprocating frame for the purpose of actuating said ribbon-vibratinglmemhers.

In carryingout my-invention I provide means whereby such arm or actuator may be adjusted at will upon said reciprocating frame and independently thereof in such a manner that either the upper edge portion or lower edge portion .of the ribbon may be brought into use; Said universal-bar frame is at the middle portion of the machine and inaccessible to the operator, and in order to effect the desired adjustment of the actuator conveniently I provide a rock-shaft, which extends tothe side of the machine and is there provided with a finger-piece, which is readilyaccessible to theoperator.

In :thesaid Underwood machine it is customa'ry to shift the platen up and down to [enable capital types and small types to print, and it is also usual to shift the ribboncarrier up and down with the platen. My improvements are so applied as to be efficacious in both printing'p'ositions of the platen and ribbon.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section taken at about the central part of the machine from front to rear and showing the platen, the ribbon, the ribboncarrier, and the vibrating frame and connected parts. At this figure the parts are shown in normal position by the full lines, the dotted lines at the top portion of the figure showing the printing position of the ribbon. Fig. 2 is a plan of parts seen at Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a a front elevation showing principally the means for shifting the device which actuates the ribbon-vibrating members. Fig. 4 illustratesin full and dotted lines the different positions to which said actuator may be shifted. Fig. 5 is an elevation of one of a pair of cooperative locking members, and Fig. 6 shows an elevation and plan of the other of said cooperative members. I

Type-bars 1 are thrown rearwardly against the front side of a platen 2, the impressions being made by means of an inking-ribbon 3, having a band 4 of black along its upper edge and a band 5 of red though other colors may be employed, and the invention is not limited to a ribbon l1avingtwo colors only. i

The ribbon is threaded through a carrier 6, which slides up and down between guides 7 8, and at its lower end is pivoted at 9 to a bent lever 10, which vibrates up and down to raise and lower the ribbon-carrier. The fulcrum or pivot of this lever is seen at 11, the lever being pivoted to a bracket 12, fixed to a vertically-shiftable rail 13, the latter shifting up and down with the platen in the usual manner of the Underwood machine, together with the lever and the ribbon-carrier 6. Said lever is operated by means of an arm or actuator 14, which is held by screws '15 16 upon a. frame 17. Said frame vibrates forwardly and backwardly at each key-stroke in a well known manner. It is supportedat its rear end upon links 18, and its forward end has a guiding-tongue 19, which slides in a fixed member 20 of the framework. This frame 17 moves backwardly as a type-bar approaches the platen and forwardly as the type-bar recedes from the platen. The actuator 14 moves with said frame and has a slot 2] to engage a slunilder-screw 22, fixed upon an arm 23 ofctlie lever 10, whereby said lever is vibrated. Said screw 22 is above the along its lower edge, al-

' with the ribbon-carrier a key is operated the arm is thrown up, to ether with the ribboncarrier and ribbon to t e dotted-line position A at Fig. 1, and w en the frame 17 returns to normal position the arm- 10 "falls, together 6 and the ribbon, so as to expose the printing.

The actuator 14 is shiftable backwardly and forwardly upon the frame 17 and independently thereof, the screws 15 and 16 passmg through slots 24 and 25, formed in a base portion 26 of said actuator and resting upon the frame 17. Said slots extend forwardly and rearwardly and are of a length to permit sufficient movement of the actuator to vibrate the lever 10 and throw the ribbon-carrier 6 up and down to bring either color-band thereon into use, such movement being preferabl limited by the ends of the slots 24 25. To e ect this shifting movement of the actuator, I mount upon the reciprocating frame 17 a rock-shaft'27, having at its outer end a fingeriece 28 and at its inner end crank 29, which as a wrist 30 extending through the actuator 14 and capable of shifting the same forwardly and bac wardly for purposes already described,

The actuator is locked in its forward and backward positions by means of a pair of cooperative members 31 32, the former fixed upon a bracket 33, into which said rock-shaft is journaled, said bracket being fastened by screws 34 upon said frame 17. The other member 32 is fixed by a set-screw 35 upon the rock-shaft 27 and is provided with a projection 36, which may enter either of a pair of holes 37, formed in the member 31, said locking members being held togetherby a compression-spring 38, coiled around said rock-shaft, which is movable endwise sufiioiently to permit disengagement of the looking members.;; 1

At Fig. 1 the ribbon mechanism is. shown in normal position, and the actuator 14 is adjusted to its rearward position, so that when ribbon=carrier will be thrown up far enough strike the lower or red band 5. The platen and rod 13' are shown in elevated position for writing capital letters When it is desired to make black impressions upon the paper, the finger-piece 28 and shaft 27 are pulled out, so as to disengage the lockingmember 32 from the cooperative member31 and when the finger-piece 28 is turned to bring the projection 36 into engagement with the other hole 37, Whereit is held by the spring 38, such movement'eii'ecting the shifting of the actuator from the full-line to the dotted-line position at Fig. 4, so that normally the ribbon will stand in dotted-line position B, Fi 1, and when the type-bars are opera ed t e types will print through bbihenpper orbl achjmnd upon the ribbon to cause the types to It will be seen that the entire mechanism for shifting'the color of the ribbon is mounted upon the vibrating frame 17, thus conducing to sim licity of construction and economy of mam acture, the parts being all small and light, so that their weight is unobjectionable, and being also inex ensive to make and assemble, and not'liab e to st out of order.

, When the platen 2 and 516 rail 13 are shifted down to enable the bottom or lower case t pes to print, the pivot 11 goes down with t e rail 13, and the screw 22 travels down in the slot 21 in the usual manner. Thelever 10 andcarrier 6 with the ribbon ingly. Thus it will be seen that the writing may be that both up er and lower case types will pririt upon a sing e color-band'of the ribbon, according to-the adjustment of the actuator 14.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of my invention, and portions of my the color of avifng thus claim- 1. In a visible-writing machine, the combination of a ribbon-carrier, a lever for vibrating said carrier, a reciprocating frame, an actuator upon said frame to operate said lever, means for different positions upon said frame to raise and lower the ribbon, and means for detaining it in either position to which it is shifted, duringnthe reciprocations of said frame.

2. a visible-writing machine, the combination of a ribbon-earner, a lever for vibrating said carrier, actuator upon said frame to operate said lever, manually-operable means for shifting said actuator upon said frame, to raise and lower the ribbon ,While said frame is stationary, and means for detaining said actuator in 'either position to which it is shifted, during the reciprocations of said frame.

3. In a visible-writing machine, the combination of a ribbon-carrier, a lever for vibrating said carrier,

described my invention, I

a reciprocating frame, an actuator upon said frame to operate gsaid lever, and manually-controlled means for shifting said actuator upon said frame so as to vary the printing position of the said carrier, and means upon said frame for locking said actuator in either of a plurality of posi- 4. In a visible-writing bination of a ribbon;carr1er, a ing said carrier, a reciprocating frame, an actuator upon said frame to operate said mounted upon said reciprocating frame, for moving said actuator independently of said frame to raise and lower the ribbon.

5. In a visible-writing machine, the combination' of a ribbon-vibrating lover, a reciprocating frame, an actuator-mounted upon 'd frame for movement independently j sai drop accord changed as desired, and

im rovements may be used without others.

a reciprocating frame, an

tions during the reciprocations of said frame. I machine, the comlever for vibratlever, and means including a finger-piece .frame during the reciprocations of said thereof, manuall rier, a reciprocating frame, a slide mounted -rier, a reciprocating frame, a slide mounted upon said reciprocating frame and engaging thereof, and means for locking said actuator in either of a plurality of positions upon said frame.

6. In a visible-writing machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrating lever; a reciprocat ng frame, an actuator mounted upon s id frame for movement independently eparable means" mounted Wholly upon said frame, for releasing said actuator and moving it from one osition to another on. said frame and loo ing it in either position.

7. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a slide movable up and down, of a lever to operate said slide, a reciprocating frame, a slide mounted upon said reciprocating frame and having a part to engage said lever, a crank connected to said slide to shift the same to and fro independently of said frame, and a finger-piece connected to said crank.

8. In a front-strike-writing machine, the combination of a ribbon-carrier movable up and down, a lever engaging said ribbon-carupon said reciprocating frame, and engaging said lever, a rock-shaFt mounted upon said frame, and having a crank to engage said slide, and a finger-piece upon said rookshaf I Y 9. In' a front-strike Writingunaohine, the combination of a ribbon-carrier movable up and down, a lever engaging said ribbon-earsaid lever, a rock-shaft mounted upon said frame, and having a crank to engage said slide, a finger-piece for rock-shaft, and means for locking said rock-shaft in a plurality of positions.

10. In a front-strike writing-nmchine, the combination of a ribbonrarrici, movable up and down, a lever engaging said ribbon-cari rier, a reciprocating frame, a slide mounted upon said reciprocating frame and engaging l said lever, a rock-shaft mounted upon said frame, and having a crank to engage said slide, a finger-piece for said rock-shaft, and means for locking said rock-shaft in a plurality of positions, said locking means including a fixed member and a cooperative meml ber mounted upon said rock-shaft, one of said cooperative members having a projection and the other having recesses to receive such pro ection.

11. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination of a ribbon-carrier movable up and down, a lever engaging said ribbon-carrier, a reciprocating frame. a sl dc mounted upon said reciprocating frame and engaging the lever, a rock-shaft mounted upon said frame and having a crank to engage said slide, a finger-piece for the rock-shaft, and means for locking said rock-shaft in plurality and a spring normally pressing said cooperative members together.

12. In a frontstrike writing-machine, the

combination of a ribbon-carrier movable up and down, a lever engaging said ribbon-carrier, a reciprocating frame, a slide mounted upon said reciprocating frame and engaging said lever, means limiting the sliding movement of said slide upon said frame, a rockshaft having a crank to engagesaid slide and mounted upon'said'frame, angl a finger-piece forsaid rock-shaft.

13. In a front-strike writing-machine, the

combination of a ribbon-carrier movable up and down, a lever engaging said ribbon-carrier, a reciprocatmg frame, a shde mounted upon said reciprocating frame and engaging" said lever, means limiting the movement of said slide, a rock-shaft having a crank to engage said slide and mounted upon said frame, means tor lockmg said rock-shaft in a Inrallty of positions, sald locking means inc uding a fixed member and a cooperative member mounted upon said rock-shaft, one of said cooperative membershavmg a prO ection and the other having recesses to receive the projection, and a spring normally pressing said cooperative members together.

14. In a type-writing machine, the comblnation with a platen, a ribbon-carrier, and a ribbon-lever, all of said members being shiftable up and down together to enable differ.-

ent types to print-,of a reciprocating frame, I

an actuator thereon mounted to slide, and having a slot to engage said lever to accommodate up-and-down shiftable movements, and manually-controlled means mounted upon said' frame for sliding said actuator independently of said frame, to advance or retract said ribbon, and means for detaining said actuator in either of a plurality of positions upon said irame.

- .15. In a sight-Writing typewriter, having 3 a platen shifting to bring it into printing relation with upper-case characters and having a 1 ribbon-interposing means which shifts with the platen to maintain itsrelation and normal operation during upper-case printing, an

the platen.

JOHN C. MCLAUGHLIN. \Yitncsses:

FRED. E. LEWIS, 1 :EDWIN C. SMITH.

actuating means having a constant move-, 

